 No change in decision on homes plan
We'd like to update you on the application for 54 new homes off St Anne's Drive and London Road in south Wokingham town, which our planning committee refused permission in December last year.
We're aware of a recent allegation, made on social media, that the committee has since "approved" this application behind closed doors. This is simply not true and we want to set the record straight.
Following our refusal, the applicant has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate - which means an independent planning inspector is set to scrutinise our decision and decide whether or not they agree with it.
If they choose to overturn our decision, the scheme will get permission and we might have to pay the applicant's appeal costs - so we must present valid reasons for having refused it and support them with evidence.
This appeal is still going ahead at some point next month, and the final decision will remain with the inspector - absolutely nothing is approved at this stage. All that has changed is the evidence we plan to present.
Putting our best case forward
The committee originally refused the scheme for four reasons:
- The impact on the undeveloped "gap" separating Wokingham from Bracknell
- The impact on protected trees on the site
- Failure to secure a contribution towards affordable housing
- Failure to secure infrastructure to offset the impact of development
Since then, we've been advised that the first two grounds are no longer valid so it wouldn't be helpful to defend them.
This is because of a recent decrease in the amount of housing land available in the borough, which under national planning rules gives us fewer reasons for refusing new development.
We therefore won't present evidence to support these points and the appeal will continue on the third and fourth grounds only, as we continue to negotiate these issues with the appellant.
Business as usual
This was decided during a recent extraordinary planning committee meeting, which was held in public with expert legal advice given in private.
This is normal procedure when sensitive issues that could affect any council's finances, and therefore public money, are being discussed - but as this announcement shows, we're happy to share the details and they are also available in the draft minutes on our website.
We'd also like to assure anyone who commented on the original application that their views will be forwarded to the planning inspector, who will take them into account before making their decision.
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